Abroad

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /əˈbɹɔd/

Origin

First attested in mid 13th century. From Middle English abrood ("broadly widely scattered"), from a- ("on, in") + brood ("broad"). Equivalent to - + broad.

Full definition of abroad

Adverb

1. (dated) At large; widely; broadly; over a wide space. First attested from around (1150 to 1350.)

1. A tree spreads its branches abroad.
• 1718, Matthew Prior, Solomon, and other Poems on several OccasionsAgain: The lonely fox roams far abroad,
  On Å¿ecret rapine bend and midnight fraud; ...
2. (unconfined)(dated) Without a certain confine; outside the house; away from one's abode. First attested from around (1150 to 1350.)to walk abroad
• p. 1650 John Evelyn, William Bray (editor), , Frederic Warne and Company (publisher, 1818), page 207, entry for 1650 July 7:I went to St. James', where another was preaching in the court abroad.
• 1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, , Chapter I:Was it so irreconcilable, Warwick wondered, as still to peal out the curfew bell, which at nine o'clock at night had clamorously warned all negroes, slave or free, that it was unlawful for them to be abroad after that hour, under penalty of imprisonment or whipping?
3. Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries. First attested from around (1350 to 1470.)
• 2013, April 9, Andrei Lankov, Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff., A closer look at North Korean history reveals what Pyongyang’s leaders really want their near-farcical belligerence to achieve — a reminder to the world that North Korea exists, and an impression abroad that its leaders are irrational and unpredictable.
• unknown date Thomas Babington Macaulay:Another prince ... was living abroad ...
4. (dated) Before the public at large; throughout society or the world; here and there; moving without restriction. First attested in the late 15^th century.
• unknown date Mark 1-45:He went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter.
5. Not on target; astray; in error; confused; dazed. First attested in the early 19^th century.
6. Played elsewhere than one's home grounds; as in a sport's team.

Synonyms

• overseas

Derived terms

• be abroad
1. To be wide of the mark; to be at fault; as, you are all abroad in your guess.
2. To be at a loss or nonplussed.

Noun